So, what is the maximum number of DVC ever to be mined (like 20 million for BTC) ? I searched for the answer, but it seems confusing. The official sites say that it is 21 billion (1000X number of BTC), but now I hear it is unlimited - is that true ? Did the software get changed sometime after first release ?

The maximum number of coins in any one wallet or address or in general any arithmetic/total, but coins will keep getting created, 50,000 per block, forever. So some century or other maybe larger than 64 bit integers will have to start being use if more than 21 billion ever need to be added up in any one arithmetic operation.

-MarkM-


Are you saying the limit is not 21 billion total, and it is unlimited ? Is there a document which says that ? The source code seems to indicate 21 billion total ever to be produced.

No, the source code indicates no individual variable containing a count of coins can count up to more than 21 billion.

Nowhere does the code add up all coins ever minted, it only adds up wallet, "account" and address totals. So as long as no individual wallet, "account" or address has more than 21 billion there could be billions of times that many coins total. It would just eventually need larger integers at some point if someone did try to add up all the coins in the entire blockchain.

Search for "subsidy" in main.cpp, it just does 50,000 coins per block forever, there is no halving and there is no block at which it stops minting.

-MarkM-


So the price of coins is basically just based on the projects and the rarity of the coins as more people come on board.